World

This unusual market thrives on the frozen swamps of Siberia

Siberia, the region covering half of Russia's land mass, is known for its extreme cold temperatures. The average temperature in the winter is around 14 degrees Fahrenheit and can get as low as -49 degrees Fahrenheit, leaving the subsoil level permanently frozen.

However, there is much more to the subarctic region than just the climate. Close to the Siberian village of Yangutum, stall holders brave the freezing temperatures of the tundra to make a living. Local people in this community sell goods such as berries, meat and fish they have caught or gathered, to people driving through the remote northern areas.

They live in shacks along an ice road through swamps known as the "Zabolotie." The road is built every winter by pouring water on the surface of the swamps to freeze it and connects the "main land" area to the remote northern areas across the swamps. During the warmer seasons, the route through the Zabolotie (about 350 km or roughly 218 miles) is impassable.

The frigid weather has created a market and way of life for these people.

Roadside stop in Siberia

Eight small shacks are seen at a market near the Siberian village of Yangutum.

Image: Alexander Aksakov/Getty Images

Hasiyal poses for a picture in her shack.

Image: Alexander Aksakov/Getty Images

A viburnum branch (center) is seen on one of the shacks.

Image: Alexander Aksakov/Getty Images

Kamil poses for a picture near his shack. Kamil and his common law wife Hasiya live in the village of Setovo, not far from the city of Tobolsk.

Image: Alexander Aksakov/Getty Images

A road sign "Slippery Road" is seen on a winter road at a market near the Siberian village of Yangutum.

Image: Alexander Aksakov/Getty Images

Yellow crucians are being sold at a market. Some of the fish is used as food, the other part is sold to wholesalers or on the winter road. Fish is one of the main sources of income as well as cranberries.

Image: Alexander Aksakov/Getty Images

Izil poses for a picture near his shack. Izil works as a dispatcher at a small airport in his village of Topkinbashevo during summers, and when navigation stops, he moves to his small shack to sell goods.

Image: Alexander Aksakov/Getty Images

A sign "Check the money on the spot" is seen on one of the shacks.

Image: Alexander Aksakov/Getty Images

Hasiya, Kamil and their cat Marussia pose for a picture in their shack.

Image: Alexander Aksakov/Getty Images

An old kettle and some clothes are seen at the back of Gulsina's shack.

Image: Alexander Aksakov/Getty Images

Hatiya poses for a picture near her shack.

Image: Alexander Aksakov/Getty Images

Nothern pikes for sale are seen at a market near the Siberian village of Yangutum.

Image: Alexander Aksakov/Getty Images

Gulsina poses for a picture in her shack. Gulsina lives in Setovo, near the city of Tobolsk. She comes to this "market" every year to sell the gifts of nature: fish, berries, meat, and even birch and pine brooms for banya (sauna).

Image: Alexander Aksakov/Getty Images

Buckets with cranberries (left) and strawberries (right) are seen at a market near the Siberian village of Yangutum. Every autumn families go to swamps to gather cranberries. They leave them on the swamps till winter and then transfer it to their homes on snowmobiles. Some of the Tatars sell it to wholesalers, others prefer to sell it on the winter road.

Image: Alexander Aksakov/Getty Images

Tuhtabiya poses for a picture near her shack.

Image: Alexander Aksakov/Getty Images

Kamil and his wife Hasiya sort berries near his shack.

Image: Alexander Aksakov/Getty Images

Hatiya poses for a picture in her shack. Hatiya lives in Yangutum. Her husband works as a motorman on a diesel station that provides electricity for the village, while Hatiya works in this "market."

Image: Alexander Aksakov/Getty Images

Three small shacks are seen near the Siberian village of Yangutum.

Image: Alexander Aksakov/Getty Images

Leniza holds an accounting book of goods sold. Leniza and her mother, Tuhtabiya, live in Yangutum.

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